Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-11
HONG DIS TRIAL.
A Verdict of "ImprisOn-
ment for Life"
CAUSES MUCH INDIGNATION,
An an Unavailing Attempt is Made
in the Courtroom to Lynch
the Culprit.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERAL d.
CoLUsA, July 10.-Last night it was
planned by the people that should the
verdict in Hong DIS case not be mur-
der in the first degree, to take h, PRS
oner away from the officers and hang
him from the bridge, a passage-way
from the court house to the jail. 1t
was nearly nine this morning when
the court was assembled and the iury
gave in their verdict. The sherifss
posse had taken the precaution to put
the prisoner behind the attorneys
desk inside the bar so that they could
better protect him.
THE VERDICT.
The audience listened with breath
less silence to the verdict. It was
murder in the first degree" and fix
ing the sentence as imprisonment for
life. After the verdict was read, Mr..
Billou, brother of Joseph Billou, ad-
dressed the court saying: eff your
honor please, the verdict is not salts
factory" This caused moments de-
lay OF unorganized activity which
forewarned the sheriffs and they i'm
mediately surrounded the Chinaman
as the mob came forward. Judge
Bridgeford arose and sternly said, "We
must have order" which was imme-
diately followed by Sheriff Beville's
demanding the crowd to clear the
court room. w. S. Green at this
point, fearing the shedding of blood,
addressed the mob and said: "The
verdict of this jury is an outrage upon
the people of California and is with
out parallel in our history, yet these
officers are sworn to, perform their
duties which they must do" Then q
number of citizens undertook to qniet
the leaders and to get them out Of the
courtroom. The Court House was fin
ally cleared and Hong Di taken to the
bridge. The jail door at the further
end OF the bridge was opened and the
criminal told to
RUN FOR HIS LIFE.
He needed no second bidding, but
glided with lightning rapidity into the
Jail. The persons below intended to
shoot him as he crossed the bridge,
but he was too quick for them. A
large number of additional deputy
sheriffs were at once sworn in and put
on guard to protect the jail. The jail
is strongly built of brick, with steel
cells, and it would be futile effort to
attempt violence thereon, and the
mob saw this, and made no effort in
that direction. The opportunity for
taking the prisoner had passed. This
evening the high excitement of the
morning had subsidized to consider
able extent, but the Indignation over
the verdict OF the jury, after 80 plain a
charge from the Court and after such
clear evidence as to the guilt Of the
prisoner, is without bounds, and de-
nunciations of the jury are universal.
THE JURY,
Until late hour last night, stood ten
for murder in the first degree, one for
manslaughter and one for acquittal,
and at last they compromised on 4
sentence for life.
THE MOOSE READY.
At the time when the verdict was
being rendered by the jury, parties
fastened rope to the bridge between
the courthouse and Jail, with a hang
mans moose at the end, in readiness
for the criminal, provided he had
been secured by the mob. After
Hong Di had gained the Jail one of the
leading spirits of the mob threw the
rope, still attached to the bridge, over
the railing, where it now swings.
A GAY TIME.
Juryman Gay went home on the
noon train, as did the Bilious. A dis
cussion was engaged in between Billou
and Gay, and Gay convinced Billou
that he was in error in his actions ON
the jury, as he was the one who
favored leniency. As the train stopped
at Colusa junction he was regretting
his actions and began to cry. Miss
Mary Billou, sister to Joseph, was so
disguised and incensed at him that
she stepped up and struck Gay square
ly in the eye. Gay at once left the
car and went over to the other train.
Miss Billou is said to be perfect lady
in every respect, and must have been
extremely angered, as she is credited
with the assertion that she would have
led the mob in the courtroom had she
known they needed leader.
THE LYNcHING PARTY. -o
This afternoon word was received
from some of the best men in Arbuckle
stating that if needed so men would
come from there to assist in taking the
murderer out of Jail and hanging him.
Steamboat Captain Smith tied up at
the wharf this morning and when he
saw the state of affairs, said he would
lead his % boatmen to an attack on
the Jail if the people would organize.
AN APPEAL FOR AID.
SACRAMENTO, CAL, July 10.-About
noon to-day the following dispatch
was received here: "Colusa. Gov
ernor Bartlett Just received verdict
of murder in first degree in the Hong
Di case. Imprisonment for life. A
bold attempt to take him from the
court room was made by mob now
surrounding the jail. The Sheriff will
be unable to protect him. Must have
assistance Immediately.
[Signedl: w. L. BEvILLE,
Sheriff.
+. A. BRIDGEFoRD,
Superior Judge.
THE RESULT.
The Governor is at Alameda and